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Every morning you wake up in a fog. Exhaustion overwhelms your body, even though sleep is supposed to relieve it; but that’s not the case for you.

You force yourself to get out of bed in the morning, hoping that stretching your limbs as long and high as you can and expelling your breath from the pits of your lungs will snap you out of it.Your body moves like a sloth. You lack motivation, confidence, and energy. Daily, youfeel sad, asking yourself, “WHY? Why can’t I just be normal like everyone else?"

You get yourself to your destination for the day, whether it is work or school, and youare consumed in a fog of exhaustion. You can't focus. People try to communicatewith you, but you can’t seem to gather yourself into a balanced individual.

Because you lack motivation, confidence, and energy, the people around you feel it too. You distance yourself from everyone to try and protect your image, which only makes it a lonely day.

Many of us know this struggle. I know this struggle. This struggle is depression, and it’sexhausting. I have dealt with depression my entire life. For many years, I've struggled andstruggled with knowing how to cope with this illness.

One strategy I've found that helps me cope is to count my blessings...literally. I write down every single joy in my life and what I am thankful for.

Then I write out a list of everything I love and live for... the things that make me the happiest. This tends to be the most motivating thing for me to remember — why I am living.

I also make sure I take time out of each day to spend by myself in spiritual pursuits and self care. Whether that means taking a bubble bath, praying, walking or meditating—I do whatever positive activity I can do in order to get through it.

And guess what? I do get through it, and you can, too, my friend. You can, too.

As Theodore Roosevelt once said, “Believe you can and you’re half way there.” Never let the stigma and exhaustion keep you from believing you can.